Are the exterior surfaces of your home looking dull and dirty? Do you have grubby, stained sidewalks, decking, or driveways? Before you reach for the hose or bucket and brush, consider hiring a pressure washing service to restore exterior surfaces to their former clean, bright glory.
Unlike manual scrubbing or blasting grime with an ordinary garden hose, pressure washing uses pressurized water to efficiently remove mold, grime, and stains from all outdoor surfaces. Modern electric and gasoline-powered pressure washers offer flexibility, portability, and cleaning power, making them a go-to for households and professional cleaning companies.
But how hard can it be to find pressure washing services? The following guide to finding soft or pressure washing near me in your local area.
Why Pressure Washing is Better
Pressure washing your home’s exterior provides a more thorough clean than manual scrubbing or hosing down surfaces. Modern pressure washers can produce a pressurized stream of water- up to over 4,000 PSI (pounds per square inch). This gives dirt and grime nowhere to hide, quickly blasting away built-up mold, mildew, dust, mud stains, tree sap, you name it.
Pressure washing is also significantly faster and more efficient than using a bucket and brush or shifting heavy grime with your garden hose. In the hands of a trained professional, a pressure washer can remove even persistent stains and clean out stains and deep crevices with ease. For heavy-duty restoration jobs, most companies use hot or steam pressure washers, capable of cleaning up to 330 Fahrenheit. That’s adequate heat and pressure for niche cleaning needs like stripping paint or preparing surfaces before painting. Temperatures achieved with hot/ steam pressure washing also quickly kill unwanted bacteria, molds, ticks, fleas, weeds, and other undesirables in your garden or yard.
What Can Pressure Washing Be Used For?
You might be surprised by the range of exterior cleaning tasks that pressure washers are suitable for. They can be used to clean and restore effectively:
- House and Fence Siding – Remove stubborn stains from vinyl, wood, brick, or concrete.
- Patios, Sidewalks & Driveways – Blast oil spots, mud, lichen, and more from paved areas around your property.
- Decks and Porches – Strip stains from wood and tackle mold/mildew growth. Make tired wood look new again.
- Roofs – Clear moss and mildew without damaging shingles or tiles. Check for damaged areas afterward.
- Gutters and Downspouts – Dislodge compacted leaves and debris to improve drainage.
- Play Equipment and Outdoor Furniture – Deep clean plastic and wooden playsets, benches, tables, and more.
- Pools and Hot Tubs – Remove stains and mineral buildup. Check it’s safe for your surfaces first.
Beyond routine exterior cleaning, pressure washing is commonly used to prepare surfaces before painting or staining. The pressurized spray can strip chipped layers of old paint and provide a neutral base for painting. Plus, the high-pressure spray is very effective for heavy-duty applications like removing chewing gum from pavements and cleaning up after pets.
Do You Need to Hire a Professional?
Hiring pressure washing services near me, like soft pressure washing, is often more straightforward and quicker. It delivers better results for many homeowners tackling routine exterior cleaning jobs like ke patios, siding, or fences.
- Equipment – You probably don’t have an industrial pressure washer conveniently sitting in the garage. Renting equipment costs money and can be inconvenient. As a beginner, maneuvering a heavy-duty machine across your property is difficult.
- Experience – Professionals know the optimum settings and specialized techniques to tackle cleaning challenges while protecting delicate surfaces. An experienced company like National SoftWash protects landscaping, learns which nozzles to use, and adapts pressure across different materials. Plus, professionals are entirely and safely trained in handling, cleaning, and disposing hazardous wastewater.
- Efficiency – Professionals work quickly and methodically rather than struggling with equipment and technique as a beginners. The job gets done faster, freeing up more of your weekend. You are OK with drainage issues, power cables trailing across your garden, or wasting time and water getting set up.
- Effectiveness – Professional equipment, specialized cleaning solutions, and expert techniques combine to deliver superior cleaning results that restore surfaces close to their original condition. After all, companies offering pressure washing near me rely on their reputation and must provide excellent cleaning results to stay in business.
How Much Does Exterior Pressure Washing Cost?
Professional pressure washing services are more affordable than you think. For most routine exterior cleaning jobs on typical single-family homes, costs range from $150 – $250 depending on the exact services provided and how dirty your home currently is.
To give a more accurate ballpark figure, here are some example project costs:
- Two Story House Wash = $200 – $250
- Single Story House Wash = $150 – $200
- Driveway Cleaning = $125+
- Deck Cleaning = $150+
- Smaller Jobs like porch, patio, and fences = from $100+.
Not in the Wheaton area? Don’t worry; most full-service pressure washing companies charge similar rates across different locations to reassure you that you’re paying a competitive price. Just be sure to get at least three quotes from pressure-washing companies in your area before deciding.
What Should I Look for in A Pressure Washing Company?
Here are 6 top tips for finding a trustworthy, experienced pressure washing service to restore your home’s exterior:
1. Check Online Reviews – What do other customers say? Check review sites like Yelp as well as Google reviews. Pay attention to how companies respond to negative feedback.
2. Licensed and Insured – Ask companies offering soft pressure washing near me about their license, training, and insurance. This protects you from damage. Always verify licenses via online license verification portals, too.
3. Experience Matters – An established local company with 5, 10, or 20+ years of experience is ideal. They will have invested in equipment and refined techniques over many projects.
4. See Sample Photos – Quality companies posting before-and-after photos and project galleries builds trust. It helps manage your expectations, too.
5. Get a Written Estimate– Upfront quotes in writing are standard. Estimates let you compare apples to apples across companies. Watch for vague quotes hiding surcharges.
6. Offer Pressure Washing + SoftWash – Look for entire service companies offering traditional pressure washing supplemented by advanced “softwash” techniques that can tackle delicate surfaces without damage. Softwash utilizes biodegradable solutions and a lower pressure for better results without harm.
Choosing National SoftWash Wheaton, IL, for Your Pressure Washing Project
Residential and commercial customers in Wheaton, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Warrenville, and across Chicagoland’s western suburbs consistently rank National SoftWash as the #1 pressure washing expert for excellent results and pleased customers.
In addition to full-pressure washing capabilities, National SoftWash Wheaton specializes in lower-pressure “SoftWashing” using eco-friendly cleaning solutions to handle delicate surfaces like roof shingles, vinyl siding, seamless gutters, or painted fences where standard high-pressure spray risks damage or requires masking off. Customers appreciate the fantastic results from SoftWashing without harming their home or garden.
With over 170 Five-Star Reviews on Google and long-standing A+ ratings across industry review sites, National SoftWash has earned a sterling reputation for quality and customer service. The family-owned business also scores bonus points for supporting several local charities.
So, if your exterior surfaces look grubby and worn, look at the soft pressure washing experts near me at National SoftWash in Wheaton for your pressure washing project. Their experience, methods, and results speak for themselves. Call National SoftWash today at (630) 534-9580 for your FREE Estimate, or visit them online at nationalsoftwash.com to view their work and customer reviews.
